Appeals Court Overturns Conviction of Peaceful I-94 Protester

Media Contact

The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday overturned the conviction of a man who peacefully protested against police violence on I-94, following the shooting death of Philando Castile.

On July 9, 2016, about 1,500 people marched on I-94 in response to Castile’s shooting death by police. Traffic already had ground to a halt when Jeffrey Berger – a peaceful, non-violent protester - stepped onto the interstate. He was one of 47 people charged, but the only one who went to trial. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota appealed his misdemeanor public nuisance conviction, arguing that the statute is unconstitutional, too vague and that there was insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.

On Monday, the Appeals Court agreed and overturned Berger’s conviction. While the court didn’t address the constitutional question, it said the state failed to prove that Berger personally violated the statute.

“We’re pleased by the decision,” said attorney Pari McGarraugh. “Although we think that we have strong constitutional arguments here, this is a strike back against the prosecutorial approach of guilt by association. This decision means the statute is much less likely to be used as a bludgeon against collective action. It protects people protesting in groups because it requires individual proof.”

“Jeffrey Berger was rounded up in a mass arrest during a protest,” said ACLU-MN Legal Director Teresa Nelson. “The state wanted to subject him to group punishment and chill his freedom of speech, even though they didn’t have the evidence to prove he had committed a crime. This decision will hopefully prevent that type of government overreach in the future.”

Attorneys on the case are Pari I. McGarraugh, Kevin C. Riach and Jacob P. Harris of Fredrikson & Byron; and Teresa Nelson of the ACLU-MN. The ACLU-MN is a non-profit organization that works to defend the civil liberties of all Minnesotans. Learn more at www.aclu-mn.org.